PETCORE EUROPE welcomes JRC proposals for EU-wide End-of-Waste criteria for textile recycling.

PETCORE EUROPE welcomes the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) technical proposals for EU-wide End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for textile recycling, published on 27 October 2026, in line with our initial proposals. The proposed framework includes materials recovered through depolymerisation, subject to defined conditions for their quality, intended use and compliance. ^[1]

The report is an important step towards clearer, more consistent rules for recycled textile materials, including materials recovered through depolymerization as PETCORE EUROPE strongly advocated. ^[1]

Common criteria could give recyclers and their customers greater certainty about when recovered materials can be traded as products. The criteria should reflect the conditions of the Waste Framework Directive, including specific use, market demand, compliance with product rules and protection of health and the environment.

The JRC proposes that qualifying recovered monomers and oligomers could reach EoW before repolymerisation. This is a welcome recognition of chemical recycling routes, including polyester depolymerisation, subject to the proposed quality and compliance requirements. [1]

As the Commission considers the next steps, PETCORE will work with members and policymakers to help make the criteria clear, practical and suitable for industrial use.

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